Many of them still tries to enter Singapore illegally despite our tough laws and punishment. All II face sentence up to six weeks in jail and four to six strokes of the cane. With this ring leader being caught and sentenced to jail, will II cases reduced?
Salam Awang, 62, a Malaysian, was the head of a human-smuggling syndicate known as Mat Gajah (Malay for Elephant Man).
Based in Johor, where he lived, it had been operating since 2001.
Salam charged his clients $2,000 to $2,500 each and arranged for them to enter Singapore illegally by sea under the cover of night.
He even roped in his son and former son-in-law, both Malaysians, to ferry the illegal immigrants here.
On one such trip last month, Salam's son ended up losing his life when his speedboat crashed into a Police Coast Guard (PCG) vessel.
A warrant for Salam's arrest was issued in February, and it was endorsed and executed by the Malaysian authorities.
After being arrested in Johor, he was extradited to Singapore last week.
Yesterday, Salam pleaded guilty to four charges of abetting a business of conveying illegal immigrants and one charge of abetting a person to enter Singapore illegally. He will be sentenced today.
The court heard that illegal immigrants would contact Salam personally or through their agents.
After receiving payment, he would provide them with food and temporary lodging in makeshift wooden huts while he arranged for boat operators to smuggle them into Singapore.
One boat operator he used was Mohd Addha Atan, 28, a Malaysian.
Salam provided Mohd Addha with a motorised sampan and paid him between RM150 ($60) and RM200 for each illegal immigrant he successfully smuggled in.
Between mid-2006 and last November, Mohd Addha made three trips here, ferrying five Bangladeshis and two Chinese nationals. He dropped them near the shore in the northern part of Singapore.
Last 16 Nov, he was arrested by the Malaysian police and handed over to the Singapore authorities.
Later that month, he was charged with unlawful entry and abetting a business of conveying illegal immigrants.
Mohd Addha was jailed two years and six weeks and given six strokes of the cane after pleading guilty to two charges.
Salam also arranged for a Chinese national, Zhen Yuling, 38, to enter Singapore by sea on 18Sep last year.
The boatman, whose identity is unknown, managed to sneak off, but Zhen was arrested that night along the shore at Tanjong Gedong, in the north-western part of Singapore.
She pleaded guilty to unlawful entry and was jailed six weeks and fined $2,000.
Towards the end of last year, Salam got his former son-in-law, Khamis Mohammad, 49, to help out in his 'business'.
Khamis transported 30 illegal immigrants from Pasir Putih in Pasir Gudang, Johor, to Singapore in a speedboat.
No mention whether the 30 plus II being left on our shores been caught!
Salam Awang, 62, a Malaysian, was the head of a human-smuggling syndicate known as Mat Gajah (Malay for Elephant Man).
Based in Johor, where he lived, it had been operating since 2001.
Salam charged his clients $2,000 to $2,500 each and arranged for them to enter Singapore illegally by sea under the cover of night.
He even roped in his son and former son-in-law, both Malaysians, to ferry the illegal immigrants here.
On one such trip last month, Salam's son ended up losing his life when his speedboat crashed into a Police Coast Guard (PCG) vessel.
A warrant for Salam's arrest was issued in February, and it was endorsed and executed by the Malaysian authorities.
After being arrested in Johor, he was extradited to Singapore last week.
Yesterday, Salam pleaded guilty to four charges of abetting a business of conveying illegal immigrants and one charge of abetting a person to enter Singapore illegally. He will be sentenced today.
The court heard that illegal immigrants would contact Salam personally or through their agents.
After receiving payment, he would provide them with food and temporary lodging in makeshift wooden huts while he arranged for boat operators to smuggle them into Singapore.
One boat operator he used was Mohd Addha Atan, 28, a Malaysian.
Salam provided Mohd Addha with a motorised sampan and paid him between RM150 ($60) and RM200 for each illegal immigrant he successfully smuggled in.
Between mid-2006 and last November, Mohd Addha made three trips here, ferrying five Bangladeshis and two Chinese nationals. He dropped them near the shore in the northern part of Singapore.
Last 16 Nov, he was arrested by the Malaysian police and handed over to the Singapore authorities.
Later that month, he was charged with unlawful entry and abetting a business of conveying illegal immigrants.
Mohd Addha was jailed two years and six weeks and given six strokes of the cane after pleading guilty to two charges.
Salam also arranged for a Chinese national, Zhen Yuling, 38, to enter Singapore by sea on 18Sep last year.
The boatman, whose identity is unknown, managed to sneak off, but Zhen was arrested that night along the shore at Tanjong Gedong, in the north-western part of Singapore.
She pleaded guilty to unlawful entry and was jailed six weeks and fined $2,000.
Towards the end of last year, Salam got his former son-in-law, Khamis Mohammad, 49, to help out in his 'business'.
Khamis transported 30 illegal immigrants from Pasir Putih in Pasir Gudang, Johor, to Singapore in a speedboat.
No mention whether the 30 plus II being left on our shores been caught!
